Greetings,
"They say unto Him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out His vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render Him the fruits in their seasons." Matthew 21:41
Christ speaks this parable to foretell of God and His lending out His kingdom to men to do His bidding. Israel had not done it, but rejected the Messiah. Now His church is commanded to build His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven; yet we see over centuries those that were bidden to bear fruit have been removed and replaced by others that will obey and do it.
IT is a warning for any denomination or group; it is a warning for any man, not to think they 'are it' for God can remove and replace when we lose our priority and focus on Him and in Him. God will remove the one to establish the next. He did it in the flood of Noah; He did it in the old covenant and new; He has done it throughout Scripture and among denominations, (as cited below in examples). But none ought to make us more humble and fearful than these few Scriptures of being replaced and removed:
--'They made me keeper of the vineyard but mine own vineyard I did not keep." Canticles 1:6;
--Paul said, 'when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.' as the old preacher said to this, 'set on a shelf no more to be used' I Corinthians 9:27;
--and what about the church of Ephesus in Rev. 2 - 'repent, lest I come and remove your candlestick';
Is it not a warning for a church? for a man? for a denomination? to learn that you cannot forsake God and embrace self or the world and still be used of God. IT must remain God's way; 'abide in Me, and I in you'; 'draw nigh to me, and I will draw night to you'. Therefore take heed to the warning of this present day that too many have forsaken the ordinances of God and embraced the religiosity of men. These are 'refuges of lies' that need to be swept away by a call to return to Biblical authority; holiness; and devout prayer and spiritual disciplines.
Too much of the church and Christianity has the stench of carnal, worldly, unfaithfulness before the Lord. The accuser of the brethren has much ammunition against us today. Can God bless those that indulge in sin? those that embrace the world? Did He not say, 'the world and the flesh are enmity against Me'? Then cast off these things, lest we be removed and replaced by those that will obey and follow as He has said. Let not pride say, "I've been graced by His Spirit in days gone by, I can indulge in this worldly sin and not be tainted." No! that is a lie of Satan, for it will taint all that fruit that proceeds from it.
The below examples are mainly for us to realize that denominations can just as easily be replaced for adapting self, humanism, and worldly employments. To excuse worldly means and methods as acceptable, and forsake relying upon God in holiness and prayer will come to a dismissal in the Lord's kingdoms work. Many have fallen and never to rise again; but God is merciful to forgive and restore or allow another opportunity. But do not take for granted that history of a denominational past or personal past of blessings is enough to allow present or future sin. God will never and has never blessed sin.
I have read and followed the last several months of writings on Bill Hybels and James McDonald. I remember the accounts of ministry of FBC Hammond, IN of Jack Hyles and Jack Schapp and that which followed. Too many accounts of those who begun in the faith, but did not continue in the faith. 'Take heed, lest you fall'. The prayers for all Christians, churches, and denominations to remain faithful so that there will be no guise about those words, 'well done, my good and faithful servant'. For the Lord will not say, 'well done', to those that have not done well. Do not take your eyes off Christ, but remain steadfast, persevering, loyal, faithful and holy. Pray often and pray one for another.
For as Christ told this parable, the Jews did not repent, but got mad and sought to kill Him, which they did. Ephesus did not repent and God removed their candlestick. But the servant of the Lord and the people of the Lord will humble themselves, repent and find assurance in Him. These are those that will be used of Him.
For example:(there are numerous others that I could have used in Finney; John Sung; Praying Hyde; etc but these will suffice to set as an example)
1. There was one church for centuries, 'the catholic (one body) church; Yet they abused the Word and followed the traditions of men and God removed their calling and the Protestant Reformation began;
2. John & Charles Wesley were rejected from the Church of England; removed from the pulpits so they preached in the open air fields; Called removed Church of Englands anointing and the Methodists church was begun to do the work;
3. William Booth was rejected from the Methodist Church; So God used Booth and began the Salvation Army, which went into 70 countries in 90 years;
4. AB Simpson was scorned by Presbyterians for his work among immigrants; thus the Missionary Alliance church was birthed, from which also came AW Tozer;
PRAYER TARGETS:
--Democratic Congo Ebola - declared world health risks; over 2200 affected; over 1600 deaths; still spreading;
--Iran - War - a war is coming,just unclear where, but it will happen; pray for soliders to be saved for then, this is a spiritual awakening; increase this past week with Iran over tanker being taken and drone shot down;
--continued natural disasters - volcanos erupting - Peru; Italy; flooding in south US; China; more crops damaged; wildfires in Maui; Alaska;
--suicides; murder-suicides; homicides - great death toll on society as minds and hearts are evil affected;
--perversions and more sexual abuse; within a 10 day period, over 7 incidents of arrest made in sexual abuse from teachers, captives in FL, pastor/youth pastor of underage children; Bill Hybels has been called to repent by elder board for his sexual abuse to his former staff and secretary;
--Persecuted Christians - continued reports world wide of persecution, churches burned; imprisoned, death; Sudan, Nigeria, China, Iran, North Korea, etc.
--drugs & alcohol deaths and abuse - the evil of our age that is the chains of hell upon society, families, and lives;
--legalizing of abominations in our day;
UPDATES:
--bible reading; up into Luke; still looking to finish mid-August; word study is finishing markng "hear & see, H&S"; will have to document these later;
--The Activity of God - Psalms; up through Psalm 45; going to be a while on this;slow going;
--A Word - Isaiah 59; started all the verses last week on vacation; now will go back and finish them before starting chapter 60; only 5 verses are finished;
--Concert of Prayer was sent out to state leaders; posted on line; only 2 responses of people praying for us and with us; no other churches seemed to embrace it; fast is till set for 1st Tuesday of month, August 6;
--sermons from last Sunday are uploaded: Keyser church - "Manifest - Habakkuk 3:2"; Fox's Hollow - Remedial Judgement - Joel 1 & 2;
Until,
Dan
Started: July 20, 2019
Continued:
Finished:
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